Gorman known for Bagwell deal

Steve Geoghegan

Published
8:00 pm EDT, Thursday, March 31, 2011

Former Boston Red Sox GM Lou Gorman passed away today and even though he built the 1986 American League pennant winners, he's probably known more for an ill-fated trade of a future All-Star first baseman.

That trade was with the Houston Astros for journeyman long reliever Larry Andersen, in exchange for minor league infielder Jeff Bagwell, in 1990.

In the short term, the trade benefited the Red Sox because they went on to win the AL East but in the long term, the Astros made out pretty well.

Andersen left Boston after the 1990 season while Bagwell, a Killingworth resident who attended the University of Hartford, became a borderline Hall of Famer who clubbed 449 home runs in a 15-year major league career with Houston.

I saw in an interview that Gorman felt there was no room in Boston for Bagwell with Wade Boggs entrenched at third base and Mo Vaughn, a Norwalk native, coming up through the minor leagues. And he felt Andersen would solidify Boston's bullpen for the stretch run.

He made a good point but when it comes to a player of Bagwell's ability, you make room for him wherever you can. Make him a catcher, or an outfielder or a bat boy for that matter. Just don't get rid of him.